Summer is around the corner and it’s the best time to plan and enjoy a design weekend. What do you think about a relaxed couple of days in Nantes, surrounded by the best festive design?

From the 4th of June until the 4th of November 2016, the festival ‘La Cîté idéale’ is taking place in France at the Royal Abbey of Fontevraud. The theme: Building And Living. The ideal city invited 5 studios, collectives or associations to explore the intimate relationship between man and architecture. The studio Barreau et Charbonnet and Metalobil are fortunate to be two of the invited.

The studio Barreau and Charbonnet is a duo of artists. The two young french designers based in Nantes will propose a temporary installation in co-creation with Metalobil – a team that gathers artists, designers, architects, engineers, joiner, welders, locksmiths – ‘which takes place as a free spirit in the fields of environmental design, layout, scenography, furniture and graphic engineering’ in the Roman kitchen.

Jules Charbonnet, one of the founders of the studio Barreau et Charbonnet, explains: “The goal was to imagine an installation connected with the abbey and related to its story. David Martin, director of the abbey, has told us that at one time the Abbey was a place of parties and debauchery for aristocrats, the bourgeoisie, and prostitutes.”

It’s this festive background that inspired the installation Pi 5. Located in one of the master rooms of the abbey restored by the architect Lucien Magne (the last architect of the Sacré Coeur in Paris) the installation follows also the original architecture of this ‘returned’ kitchen. The size, the location and the effect made by the 5 suspended volumes make the installation really impressive. The inner structure of the udders has a wood framework and the outer skin covering the vessels are pine shingles.

The abbey being located in the Saumur vineyards, it’s wine that visitors will enjoy. All the udders measure 6m high and offer red wine, white wine, rosé wine, water or local apple juice. The ambition of the team was to propose a moment of conviviality, sharing, love and humour.

If you are particularly interested in interactive events, installations and conversations showcasing the evolving state of design, this is probably the best chance of you getting a perfect design weekend!